Editor,
The Eureka Springs School board recently approved a plan to hire a “resource officer.” This fully armed police officer, contracted from the city, will engage in disciplinary issues.
This is against the advice of both the United States Dept. of Justice and the Dept. of Education, both of whom insist such officers not be used for student discipline. Superintendent Pruitt mentioned to me several times that he might call on the officer in relation to ACT 6-17-106, a statute making it unlawful to insult a teacher or staff.
So, should a child cast an insult, instead of being handled by administrators and parents, the child could be entered into the criminal justice system. What was once a detention-worthy, and possibly even teachable offense, becomes the beginning of a criminal record, complete with intervention by an armed officer, the filing of police reports, setting of court dates, fines of up to $1500, and records that could thwart future opportunities.
Administrators are trained in school disciplinary problems. Why spend district money contracting an armed officer? Studies show resources officers do little to prevent mass incidents, and instead, open the pipeline from school to criminal justice system.
Please contact your superintendent and school board members and let them know that you do not want non-violent school misbehavior criminalized.
Amanda Cagle, PhD